Album: Eliza Carthy & Norma Waterson, Gift (Topic)

The cover photo – of mother's and daughter's bangled hands clasped together – tells its own story, of folk and family traditions passed along the line.

There are a few surprises – notably a medley in which the gentle innocence of "Ukulele Lady" finds shared swing-time affinity with Amen Corner's "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" – but it's mostly a typically well-chosen selection of traditional material in stylish settings, with Aiden Curran offering standout guitar support on the aforementioned medley and a terrific version of "Poor Wayfaring Stranger". Elsewhere, the usual suspects (Martins Carthy and Simpson, Danny Thompson and sundry other Watersons) help bring fresh life to staples like "The Nightingale" and "Bunch of Thyme" .

DOWNLOAD THIS Poor Wayfaring Stranger; Ukulele Lady; Bunch of Thyme; (If Paradise Is) Half as Nice